By JOE SMITHTimes Staff WriterCLEVELAND - Rays manager Joe Maddon came into Friday with no idea whether they’d be able to play the full game against the Indians, as rain was in the forecast off and on all night.

But Maddon knew one thing, he didn’t want it to turn out like Thursday’s Royals-Cardinals game in St. Louis, which was delayed 4 hours, 32 minutes and finished after 3 a.m.

“I hope that doesn’t happen,” Maddon said Friday afternoon.

But it appeared Friday’s Rays-Indians series opener was headed that way, delayed three times for over a combined four hours, and scheduled to start up again just after midnight with the score 0-0 in the bottom of the second.

First pitch was pushed back from 7:05 to 9:02 p.m. The teams played for 16 minutes, getting to the top of the second before it was delayed again, for 13 minutes. They tried to resume, for three minutes, but was stopped for another long delay at 9:34 p.m, with lefthander Matt Moore walking off the mound to likely finish his 11-pitch outing. …

Update 11:07 Still in a delay here at Progressive Field, no update yet on when - and if - we're going to get going.

Update 8:35 p.m. They just announced that tonight's game between the Rays and Indians is expected to start at 9 p.m., roughly two hours after it was scheduled to.

Developing: Tonight's Rays game against the Indians at Progressive Field is in a rain delay, and in a "holding pattern."

The tarp has been on the field since the early afternoon, as rain is in the forecast - on and off - all evening. Manager Joe Maddon had seemed optimistic they might get a chance to play tonight, but we'll see.

LHP Matt Moore is slated to start for the Rays, hoping to become the first major leaguer to win nine games.

The last time Rays righthander Chris Archer was at Progressive Field, it was in July 2006, and he was a 17-year-old Indians fifth-round pick signing his first professional contract.

Archer, 24, watched the Indians take batting practice, and he and his father, Ron, took in the game from the front row.

But Archer will have an even better view Saturday, called up to make his season debut for the Rays in a place where it all - professionally - started for him.

"I always envisioned myself playing here," Archer said Friday. "And to come back and actually play on the other side is pretty cool, just to maybe show them what they're missing out on."

Archer showed his potential last year in two impressive stints with the Rays, but had to patiently wait his turn as a shin contusion briefly set him back and led him to be the fourth member of the Durham rotation to get called up (RHP Jake Odorizzi, LHP Alex Torres and RHP Alex Colome).

Matt Moore will start tonight in the hopes of becoming the major league's first nine-game winner.

Update 6:14 p.m. The tarp is on the field here in Cleveland, but the rain - for now - as stopped, with manager Joe Maddon optimistic they're going to play tonight.

*LHP Jeff Beliveau, called up from Triple-A to aid the worn bullpen, will provide some much-needed depth, as Maddon said RHPs Joel Peralta, Fernando Rodney and LHP Jake McGee are unvaiable tonight. So it'll be important for LHP Matt Moore to go deep into the game.

*RHP Alex Cobb said his right middle finger feels a lot better, and is confident he'll start Tuesday in Detroit.

*RHP Chris Archer is in the house, excited to get called up and make his season debut Saturday against the Indians, the team that drafted him.

Update 4:45 p.m. The Rays lineup looks the same, with Jennings still in the seventh spot.

Alex Colome, 24, will make his major-league debut as tonight's starter.

UPDATE, 5:51: Clubhouse reviews have been positive on Colome, that he seems excited but not over-amped about making his debut. Maddon said the key is for him to remain in contrrol of his emotions, and that if so he should pitch well. Maddon told him to not look at the scouting reports, just to pitch his game and not change anything from that he's been doing in Durham.

DEVELOPING: The Rays are looking to make it a four-game sweep of the Marlins (okay, two and two) and extend their overall winning streak to five tonight.

To do so, however, they will be depending on RHP Alex Colome, the 24-year-old who will make his major-league debut as tonight's starter.

Colome was called up ostensibly to help the bullpen on Wednesday, but was moved into the starting role when RHP Alex Cobb, who was scheduled for Friday, had to be pushed back due to a cut on his right middle finger.

The Rays had to shuffle their already shorthanded rotation on Wednesday due to a finger cut that will push RHP Alex Cobb's next start back at least a few days.

Cobb said the cut, next to the nail on his right middle finger, developed during his last start Sunday and didn't heal enough for him to properly grip his off-speed pitches. He said he never had this problem before, and though he won't be able to go as scheduled Friday hoped it would only set him back until Sunday or (with the team off Monday) until Tuesday at the latest.

To cover, the Rays will start RHP Alex Colome, who was called up Wednesday ostensibly to help out the bullpen, on Thursday against the Marlins in his major-league debut. They will then bump LHP Matt Moore back to Friday in Cleveland.

From there, they have to call up a starter for Saturday - with RHP Chris Archer most likely - and then on Sunday can start either struggling RHP Jeremy Hellickson, on his day, or Cobb is he is ready. On Tuesday, they open a three-game series in Detroit.

The Rays will need a better performance than they have been getting from starter Roberto Hernandez, who has lasted a combined six innings over his last two starts.

UPDATE, 6:15: Maddon said he has noticed Jennings not chasing as many bad pitches when hitting lower in the order which is why he is sticking with it for now. ... Maddon said Alex Colome indeed could be used tonight, especially if Roberto Hernandez struggles, and that he told Colome to be more concerned with getting outs than hitting 100 mph on the scoreboard. .

Alex Colome, known for a top-shelf fastball, was 4-5 with a 2.60 ERA at Durham, with 61 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings.

RHP Alex Colome has been called up to land a hand to the Rays shorthanded bullpen.

Colome takes the roster spot of RHP Jake Odorizzi, who was sent back to Durham after Tuesday's game. Colome is likely in for a short stay as the Rays will need to call up a starter for Saturday's game at Cleveland, likely either LHP Alex Torres or RHP Chris Archer.

Colome, known for a top-shelf fastball, was 4-5 with a 2.60 ERA at Durham, with 61 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings.

Josh Sale, a first-round pick in 2010, recently completed a 50-game suspension after testing positive for a performance enchancing drug.

OF prospect Josh Sale has been suspended indefinitely by the team for conduct detrimental to the organization.

Sale was disciplined after making this post about a visit to a strip club on his Facebook page, which was picked up by the website Deadspin.com, among others:

"Threw 50 cents at a stripper tonight. First time. Got kicked out and she got so (mad) thought she was gonna cry. Your a stripper. Be thankful."

Sale, a first-round pick in 2010, recently completed a 50-game suspension after testing positive for a performance enchancing drug. He had yet to be activated at Class A Charlotte at time of his latest issue.

About the blog

The Tampa Bay Rays head into the 2015 season with Evan Longoria, Alex Cobb, Chris Archer and numerous new faces, including manager Kevin Cash and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Can they upend the Orioles in the highly competitive AL East? Come here to follow Rays news at Tropicana Field and beyond.